Two Russian disinformation networks unmasked; spokesman for government says Moldova won't be fooled

Two Russian disinformation networks – Pravda and Matryoshka – have been exposed by fact-checkers in the recent months, not only in Moldova, but also at the European level. The government's spokesperson, Daniel Voda, said that their goal was to undermine trust in the state, divide society and manipulate public opinion ahead of the elections.

"For the government of Moldova, these disinformation networks are not a surprise. We know where they come from, we know what they are after and we know how dangerous they can be. They represent unclean information, deliberately spread in the villages and cities of Moldova with a single purpose: to divide the society," Daniel Voda said.

According to him, "these networks use clone sites and fake pages, shocking headlines and unclean content, in order to weaken people's trust in the state."

"Recently, we also see these falsehoods abroad, where our Moldovan citizens live. The messages are picked up by international media because they seem credible, but they are not verified every time; they are beautifully packaged but contain misinformation," Daniel Voda noted.

He said that Russia, according to documentation, had spent 200 million euros – equivalent to 1 per cent of Moldova's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – on propaganda and disinformation.

"With this money, schools, hospitals, or youth centers could have been built, following the example of European countries, the USA and Japan, for example, which help us develop. Instead, Russia's money has built lies. The stakes are clear: the parliamentary elections due in next autumn," said Daniel Voda.

In the context, the official urged citizens to be informed only from reliable sources and to share only verified information, in order to "break the chain of disinformation" and not "let the lie travel faster than the truth."

"What do we do? We tell the truth. Clearly, verified, and on time. We don't spread rumors. If you don't know if it's true, don't pass it on. We talk to our family and close people. Let's not be part of the chain of lies. We protect the information space. Our freedom is not guaranteed, if we don't defend it," added Daniel Voda.